Venetian blind



W. L. SMITH VENETIAN BLIND June 13, 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1932 I L Smlm3nmwr Qttornegs June 13, 1933.

W. L. SMITH VENETIAN 'BLIND 2 Sheets-Sheet"? .flsql iwi fi llianzlhdnwim ISnventcr C(ttomegs File( i Dec, 29, 1932 Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED} STTES PAt'I'EN'l OFFICE WILLIAM LUTHER SMITH, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA VENETIAN BLIND Application filed December 29, 1932. Serial No. 649,389.

This invention relates to sun shades of Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structhe type generally known as Venetian ture shown in Figure 1. blinds. Figure 3 is a plan'view.

v Devices of this kind have been produced Figure 4 is a section on line igof slats supported by flexible straps and opure 1. crating cords have been used for raising the Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 Figblinds, during which operation these slats ure 1. p s s have been drawn together into a compact Figure 6 is a section on line 66 Figbundle. ure 1.

.lVhere the blindshave been of large sizes Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the inand the slats correspondingly heavy, difiitermediate cord guide used on thetop rail. culty usually has been experienced in so Figure 8 is a side elevationthereof. mounting the operating cords as to permit Figure 9 is a plan view of one 'end 'portheblind to be raised easily. tion of the bottom rail of the blind.

Furthermore in structures thus far de- Referring to the figures by characters of vised the top or tilt rail of the blind has reference 1 designates the top member of the not been easily removable to permit bodily frame of the blind and thismember is formed removal of the entire blind without disturbin its top face with a longitudinal channel 2 ing the hardware used for supporting and extending from one end to the other thereof. guiding the blind. As shown in Figure 1 the channel has'each It is an object of the present invention to end inclined downwardly at 3 to an end slot overcome the disadvantages present in prior 4 opening downwardly into a guide'channel structures by providing a Venetian blind 5 formed in the inner side of the side strip 6 all parts of which are so mounted in their of the blind frame. The two side strips, in supports and guides as to permit quick and turn, are supported on and secured to the easy removal of the blind without disturbbottom member 7 of the frame. ing the hardware used therewith. The blind is made with a bottom rail 8 the It is a further object to provide an arends of which are reduced in width as at'9 rangcment of operating cord and cooperatso as to project into and slide freely within ing pulleys whereby the cord can be operated the channel so easily and minimum force is required in the A top rail 10 is provided with trunnions lifting of blinds of the largest sizes. 11 and 12 which do not project into the chan- VVith the foregoing and other objects in nels 5, this being possible because of the fact view which will appear as the description that top or tilt rail 10 is considerably shorter proceeds, the invention consists of certain than bottom rail 8. novel details of construction and combina- The trunnion 11 is removably supported tions of parts hereinafter more fully dein a bracket 18 secured to the top member 1 scribed and pointed out in the claims, it and depending therefrom, there being an being understood that changes may he made angular slot 14 in this bracket whereby the xii " in the construction and arrangement of the trunnion 11 can be inserted and removed parts without departing from the spirit of readily in the same manner as a window the invention. shade roller of the ordinary construction.

In the accompanying drawings the pre- Trunnion 12 is movably seated in the houswr ferred form of the invention has been shown. ing 15 of the tilt mechanism commonly em- In said drawings: ployed and which is actuated as usual by Figure 1 is a front elevation of the Venecords 16. As this tilt mechanism constitutes tian blind and its guiding and supporting no part of the present invention. it is not structure, a portion of this latter structure deemed necessary to show or describe it.

WV being in section and the blind being shown. It might be stated at this time that the trunmo partly raised. nion 12 is detachably connected to the top bar or rail so that by detaching said trunnion from the rail said rail can be lifted readily from position in the blind frame.

Flexible loops or straps 17 are secured to the top or tilt rail 10 and to the bottom rail 8 and are suitably joined to slats 1.8 which are extended through the loops and are in superposed relation. Each slat has end lugs 19 which extend into the channels 5 and permit the slats to slide and to tilt relative to the frame.

Secured on the top member 1 at a point between the ends thereof is a plate 20 which overlies a recess 21 in said member and com- 3 municating with channel 2. To the bottom of this, plate is secured a bracket 22 which cooperates With plate 20 to hold spaced guide pulleys 23 mounted-for rotation about vertical axes.

A tongue 24; is extended from the plate 20 laterally beyond member 1 and has depending ears 25 between which is supported a guide pulley 26 mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. 1

Additional guide pulleys 27 are mounted within the enlarged end portions of the channel 2 and secured to the ends of the bottom rail 8=are brackets 28 each of which carries a guide pulley 29.

Anoperating cord 30 is secured at its ends to the upper endportions of the respective side strips 6, as shown at 31. From these points of connection the cord is extended downwardly within channels 5 a-nd under pulleys 29. from whichit is extended upwardly within said channels 5 to the pulleys 27. The cord extends thence to the pulleys 23 andis looped-as at 82, the said loop being guided over pulley 26and extended downwardly to a fastening stud 33 or the like lo.- cated on one side portion of the frame.

When the loop 32 is disengaged from the stud 83 the bottom rail 8 and slats 18 will move downwardly by gravity, causing the strips or loops 17 to become taut. l Vhile the parts arethuslocated in their-lowered or closed positionssaid slats can be tilted in either direction to any desired angle by tilting rail 10 in the usual manner.

By pulling on the loop 32 the end portions of the cord will exert lifting forces upon the pulleys 29 and will cause bottom rail 8 to move upwardly and produce a corresponding upward movement of the slats in regular succession. During this operation the ends of the bottom rail and the lugs 19 on the ends of the slats will ride in the channels 5.

By mounting the operating cord as described the power exerted is multiplied to suchan extent that Venetian blinds of the largest sizes can be raised easily by anyone and the difficulties heretofore encountered in operating large and heavy blinds of this type are overcome.

A feature of primary importance is found in the fact that by detaching trunnion 12 from the tilt rail 10 said rail can be disengaged from bracket 13 and all of the slats, as well as the bottom rail 8, can be tilted and removed from channels 5, the pulleys 29, at this time, lifting out of the loops formed by the end portions of the operating cord 30. Thus the blind is advantageous as compared with other makes of Venetian blinds because of the ease with which it can be removed from and placed in position when desired.

Vvhat is claimed is:

'1. The combination with a frame having guide channels on the sides thereof, an operating cord having its'ends secured fixedly adjacent to the upper ends of the channels, said cord providing endloops supported within the respective channels and an intermediate loop, of guide, pulleys connected to the topof the framefor guiding the cord from said intermediate loop along said top and tothe loops within the channels, a Venetian blind having a top rail detachably supported from the top of the frame and out of engagement with the sides of the frame, a bottom rail slidable within the channels, pulleys carried by the endsof the bottom rail and removably seated in the channels, said pulleys being movably supported by the loops in the channels, and slats inter-posed between and movably connected to the top and bottom rails, said slats being in slidable and removable engagement with the channeled sides of the frame.

2. The combination with a frame having channeled sides and a channeled top, of a cord secured at its ends adjacent to the upper ends of the channels in the sides a, plate secured to the top frame, spaced pulleys carried thereby and extending into the top channel, a. guide pulley supported by said plate and spaced from the frame, guide pulleys in the ends of the top channel, said cord being looped within the side channels and extended over the last named pulleys into engagement with the spaced pulleys on the plate, said cord having an intermediate loop extending between the spaced pulleys and over and depending from the guide pulley on the plate, and a Venetian blind comprising a bottom rail removably and slidably mounted at its ends in the side channels, pulleys on said ends movably supported by the loops in the side channels, a tilt rail removably supported by the top of the frame and clear of the sides of the frame, and slats between and movably connected to the rails, each slat having terminal lugs slidably and removably seated in the side channels.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixed my signature.

WILLIAM LUTHER SMITH. 

